FLAGSTAFF & VERDE VALLEY, Ariz. – Northern Arizona Healthcare (NAH) is pleased to announce that the NAH Nurse Residency Program, prepared and delivered by the NAH Education Department, has been awarded Accreditation by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Practice Transition Accreditation Program (PTAP®). The accreditation extends to both nursing residency programs at Flagstaff Medical Center and Verde Valley Medical Center in Cottonwood.
The ANCC, which is part of the American Nurses Association, runs the PTAP®. This program does not accredit nursing schools, but instead looks at the residency and fellowship programs that health systems offer nurses. These programs are designed to help nurses either start their careers as new graduates or move into a new specialty area if they are already experienced.
When a residency or fellowship is accredited by ANCC through PTAP®, it means the program has been carefully evaluated and meets national standards of excellence. That includes having strong organizational support, a structured and evidence-based curriculum, opportunities for hands-on learning with mentorship and preceptorship, and a system for measuring outcomes like nurse competence, confidence and retention. Accreditation tells both nurses and employers that it is a comprehensive, well-supported transition into practice.
“We are so proud to announce that the NAH Nurse Residency program is now accredited by the ANCC PTAP®,” said Erika Simon, NAH director of Education. “The NAH Education Department worked tirelessly to implement evidence-based practice approaches across the Nurse Residency Program to impact safe, high quality patient care. For nurses, participating in an accredited program helps build confidence and competence while reducing the stress of moving into a new role. For health care organizations, it improves nurse retention, strengthens recruitment and leads to better patient outcomes. For patients, it means they are cared for by nurses who are more prepared and supported. We know that having this accreditation will contribute to NAH’s commitment of providing exceptional care to every patient,” Simon added.
The accreditation process itself involved NAH submitting documentation that shows how their program meets ANCC’s standards. NAH submitted an application of intent in January 2025, a self-study in May of 2025, and conducted a virtual visit in July of 2025, that included Education, Nursing, Accreditation, preceptors, preceptees and senior leaders. The accreditation lasts four years, at which time NAH will reapply.
To learn more about NAH’s Nurse Residency program, please visit https://www.nahealth.com/education/nurse-residency-program/.
To learn more about the accreditation, please visit www.nursingworld.org/organizational-programs/accreditation/ptap.
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About Northern Arizona Healthcare
Northern Arizona Healthcare is the largest health care organization in a region that encompasses more than 50,000 square miles. As a nonprofit health care system, our organization is governed by a volunteer board of directors. Our team of more than 4,000 doctors, nurses and other experts works together to keep you and your family healthy.
Serving more than 700,000 people in communities across the region, we provide comprehensive health care services through two hospitals – Flagstaff Medical Center and Verde Valley Medical Center – as well as through primary care and specialty physician clinics, outpatient surgical centers, Cardiovascular Institute, Cancer Centers of Northern Arizona Healthcare, EntireCare Rehab & Sports Medicine, Children’s Health Center, Orthopedic & Spine Institute, Guardian Air and Guardian Medical Transport.
For more information on NAH programs and services, visit NAHealth.com. “Like” NAH on Facebook by searching Northern Arizona Healthcare Flagstaff and Northern Arizona Healthcare Verde Valley. Follow NAH on Instagram by searching Northern Arizona Healthcare.